ROADS through Manchester and Salford were jammed last night (Thursday) following a gas leak.

A police helicopter hovered above the city centre, warning residents of the gas leak outside the Black Lion pub in Blackfriars Road.

Transco officials working at the junction of Blackfriars and Chapel Street told police about the leak at about 3.45pm yesterday.

Blackfriars Street was closed at the junction with Chapel Street, Deansgate and Viaduct Street. The junction of Chapel Street and New Bailey Street and Victoria Bridge was also closed.

Police asked commuters to find another route home.

John O'Grady, public relations manager for Transco, said: "We evacuated the pub landlord and a pizza restaurant and an office block next door as a precaution. We asked the police to close off the junction of Blackfriars Road and Chapel Street.

"We did not appreciate that this would mean the closure of other roads. We could not have carried out the repair work without the roads being closed, because we could not take the risk of having vehicles driving past."

Mr O'Grady apologised for the inconvenience, but said repair work to the cracked pipe was essential.